WHO TOLD YOU THAT?

Have you ever been told something that you've never forgotten?  Perhaps you were told something when you were younger and it stuck and always stayed in the back of your mind.  The other day my husband and I were discussing our future.  My life long dream is to become a high school English teacher.  I love writing and conveying information to high school kids in a fun and creative way.  I have about 65 credit hours currently, but have not yet completed my Bachelor's degree.  I expressed to my husband how I wish I had gone to college sooner.  I told him how I was told that I wasn't very smart and how I never believed that I could be successful in college.  Perhaps you have been told certain things throughout your childhood or maybe someone is telling you those lies right now.  I have come to tell you three words.  SILENCE THE NEGATIVITY.

When I was a young girl, I was told all kinds of things.  I was told I wasn't smart.  I was told I wasn't pretty.  And even today.  I'm told things aren't possible and i'm not qualified.  And guess what?  Those statements are true.  But, when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, those statements dissipated into a sea of nothingness.  Those statements have no sound.  No voice.  No meaning.  They are silenced forever because they are voided out by God's Holy Word.  "whatever a man thinketh so is He" (Proverbs 2:7).  "Greater is He that is in me (1 John 4:4).  So, I want to encourage you to silence the negativity and know who you are and whom you belong to.

When Adam and Eve were in the garden in the book of Genesis, God called out to Adam and asked him "Where are you?" But Adam was afraid to come out because he knew he was naked.  God then said "who told you that?".  This means Adam didn't know anything about being naked and the meaning of clothing until he was told so.  So, if you have a negative self image today, who told you that?  Who told you you weren't smart enough to go to college.  Who told you you weren't pretty enough?  Who told you you aren't good enough the way God made you?  I bet you it wasn't God.  Because if it was God, he would tell you that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. He would tell you that you are the light of the world and the salt of the Earth.

Finally, don't let anyone take away your right to believe what God told you you are.  Be the YOU He created you to be.  As I continued the conversation with my husband about how inferior I felt and how I thought I could never be successful in school, he told me something extremely profound.  He said to me "Babe, when you realize that smart people know absolutely nothing, you will be great.  It is their pursuit of knowledge that makes them smart."  I will never forget that.  So, take that quote and apply it to your life.  No matter what your insecurities or shortcomings are.  God did not make a mistake with your appearance.  You are beautiful.  He did not make a mistake with how smart you are.  You are brilliant.  But whatever you hope to enhance, you have to pursue.  Love the skin you're in and strive to perfect it.